Reading FC Match Report: 2017/2018 Season - Championship

25 November 2017READING 0 SHEFF WED 0

Reading: -- Sheff Wed: --

Although Reading only managed to pick up a point at home against an equally ambitious Wednesday side there are signs Reading are moving in the right direction. The Royals second half display was worthy of winning the game lacking only the finish to some promising attacking play. Wednesday did threaten on the break particularly near the end but there were spells when they were simply pinned in their own half by a dominant Reading. Again the team could not be faulted for work rate and Moore, McShane and Van den Berg looked very comfortable at the back against a potent Wednesday strike force. Those fans who for some reason felt the need to boo their team need to reflect on the recent run of games which has seen two wins, two draws and a defeat against runaway league leaders Wolves in a game in which they looked capable of taking at least a point.

Wednesday came into the game four points outside the play off places and unbeaten in six games having taken points off Villa, Bristol City and Ipswich in their last three games, so they were certainly not low on confidence. It was a slightly cautious opening forty five minutes but Reading dominated possession and were getting good crosses into the box which Wednesday on the whole dealt with well. Gunter was a revelation getting down the left to good effect putting in five decent crosses with his weaker left foot.

Barrow was direct in his runs down the same flank but often found himself confronted by two defenders in a well organised Wednesday rearguard. Loovens was deservedly shown a yellow card for his cynical foul to prevent the Reading winger from breaking through on the halfway line. Aluko was tormenting the visitors defence on the opposite wing but could not quite find the finish required on two occasions. Early in the half he got behind the Wednesday back four and slid a ball across the edge of the six yard area when a scoring attempt might have been a better option. Just before half time he squandered Reading’s best chance of the game. Kermorgant headed down a cross to the far post and with time and space he lost his composure hammering the ball in to ground with the ball sitting up nicely and the goal at his mercy.

Wednesday should have taken the lead just after half time when the Reading defence pushed up and did not get the offside decision they were expecting leaving Manone confronted unprotected by a line of Wednesday attackers. Fortunately Joao poked the ball tamely into his hands when a goal appeared the most likely outcome. The game opened up and as more space appeared the ball was moved forward quicker by both teams. As the half unfolded Reading gradually took control of the game and looked more likely to find the crucial goal. Wednesday tried to hit Reading on the break but generally Reading’s defence contained their attack comfortably leaving Manone with very little to do.

There were spells when it was difficult to tell if Wednesday were sitting back or simply unable to get out of their own half under Reading’s pressure. Chances fell to both sides as full time approached. Barrow was unable to set himself to take advantage of a low cross and missed from close range in front of goal and Rhodes mistimed a header which drifted wide. Reading’s day was epitomised by Clements superbly hit goal bound shot from the edge of the box being blocked inadvertently by Aluko, presumably trying to get out of the way.

So Reading edge their way slowly away from the relegation zone and eight points from the last five games is by no means cause for alarm. No-one is more acutely aware of Reading’s need to improve their finishing than Jaap Stam and we can only hope funds will be made available for him to strengthen the attack soon. Goals seem particularly hard to come by at home but Reading have found the net nine times in the last five games. Again the home fans were disappointing. They had more to shout about than the vast and vociferous contingent of visiting fans and yet they were subdued and slow to encourage during the game when their team pressed forward. The few isolated boos at the end were clearly not deserved. I could not agree with Owls manager Carvalhal’s blinkered view of the match that his side were “more of a threat” than Reading. They were in fact lucky to escape with a point.
John Wells

Post Match Fans' Opinion

windermereROYAL

» 25 Nov 2017 18:53

Well not much to be said about that borefest. huffed and puffed a lot. clearly instructed to get it in the box early.
The Yorkshire men clearly had just a point and defended very well and we didn't have the guile or know how to break them down.
when we finally created Barrow skied a very easy chance from 8 yards.

Mannone 6 rarely troubles ver calm with ball at his feet.
Gunter. 6 got forward a lot with no end product.
McShane. 7 rarely tested
Moore 7 has above.
Bacuna. 8 MOM for me. always trying to get forward and create.
JVDB 6 solid in the middle, and his hands full with Bannon.
Kelly 5 continues to disappoint.
Edwards. 5 ran around a lot, didn't do much.
Aluko 6 clearly a very skilful player, but need more from him.
Kermy 4 was he out there?
Barrow 5 point deducted for THAT miss.
subs.
Jon dadi 6 showed more then Kermy, but that wasn't hard.
Clement 6 would start him Tuesday,

RoyalBlue

» 25 Nov 2017 18:57

To claim that Gunter had no end product today is ridiculous. He put in some great crosses with what is supposedly his weaker foot. With a fully fit Kermorgant and/or another decent striker we would have got a couple of goals from them. The likes of Quinn, Senior, Doyle or Long would have been feasting off them.

Hound

» 25 Nov 2017 18:58

Fair summary - wouldn’t barely argue with any of those ratings or write up

I’d only say Barrow was worth at least a 7 - even inc the miss (thing he just wrong footed himself - it seemed to just hit his wrong leg). He was our most dangerous player by a distance

Also agree on the poster above about Gunter. Thought he was good today and put in some good crosses

AthleticoSpizz

» 25 Nov 2017 19:07

Tackled effectively too

Joey better than his “6”

leon

» 25 Nov 2017 19:14

Not sure that Wednesday parked the bus. They were disciplined and compact. They were also pretty poor as well.

This game didn’t really answer any questions for me. The style of football is still not my cup of tea. We’re still not creating nearly enough chances. We looked more solid will with the starting lineup however.

PieEater

» 25 Nov 2017 19:18

you wonder why people don't post when the second third and fourth post are moaning about the first

What does it matter how somebody rates a performance and a 5 a 6 or a 7, get a life FFS.

File these people who debate it under complete and utter twats

Hound

» 25 Nov 2017 19:21

Don’t people basically put up the ratings to debate them? It’s not being rude or moaning, it’s just discussing them

Yeah it’s sad discussing player performances in terms of ratings, but pretty much only as sad as anything else to do with following a football club

And definitely only as sad as people who come onto a football club website and then abuse those people who are doing that

PieEater

» 25 Nov 2017 19:26

Sorry Hound but it's lurkers like you that prefer to snipe and pick out scores rather than post an entire alternative perspective. If you have a view to debate then post it, don't pick on Wr for having the time and gumption to post a review that remote Royals might appreciate.

AthleticoSpizz

» 25 Nov 2017 19:27

thanx, love you too.

Why bother giving player ratings in the first place at all, if people cannot give their own?

Bit of a twattish post there from you (of all people) tbf Pie

Hound

» 25 Nov 2017 19:29

Wouldn’t say I was a lurker exactly

And I basically agreed with everything the first poster said as I mentioned, but gave my view on a couple of the players on the 2 occasions they differed - and quite politely as well, not moaning

RoyalBlue

» 25 Nov 2017 19:34

Look in the mirror when dishing out that insult. Surely the whole effing point of these forums is that it's a debate/discussion?! Follow your warped logic and there will only ever be one post as all agree with that poster.

What's the point of posting ratings if it doesn't matter whether it is rated a 5, 6 or 7?!

And if people really are so precious and worried that someone might criticise their post, they shouldn't be near any form of social media; so probably better they are put off posting .

Of course, calling people complete and utter twats is the way to encourage more posting on threads! (apologies for the knee-jerk reaction back). Fortunately some are more robust than that or these forums would be very empty.

PieEater

» 25 Nov 2017 19:37

Look in the mirror you fool! Surely the whole effing point of these forums is that it's a debate/discussion?! Follow your warped logic and there will only ever be one post as all agree with that poster.